Ford Motor Company is implementing aggressive discounting strategies to boost sales of its 2023 model year F-150 Lightning electric pickup trucks. Following a similar approach used successfully with the Mustang Mach-E, Ford is offering substantial discounts on remaining inventory to incentivize customers.
Customers interested in leasing the all-electric pickup can now benefit from discounts of up to $15,250 off the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the top trim in at least 10 different regions.
This move comes as Ford acknowledges missteps in its EV certification program for dealers and aims to accelerate its electrification plans. The discounts are primarily targeted at several trims of the 2023 F-150 Lightning, with the largest discount applied to the flagship Platinum trim.
CarsDirect reports that lessees of the Platinum trim can now receive a $15,250 discount through Ford’s Red Carpet Lease (RCL) Customer Cash, a significant increase from the previous $7,500 discount. Other trims also qualify for varying rebate amounts.
For example, the Lariat, which previously had a $5,000 rebate, now offers a $9,750 discount for the Standard range battery version, while the Extended range battery version provides a $9,250 discount.
Notably, the XLT trim is eligible for a $7,000 discount, but only for the Extended range version. Standard range XLTs receive a smaller $1,500 discount. To take advantage of these discounts, customers must lease the vehicle from one of the regions where Ford is offering them initially. These regions include Cincinnati, Dallas, Los Angeles, Memphis, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, and San Francisco.
In California, buyers can also benefit from 0.9 percent financing on a 36-month lease in addition to the discounts. Ford’s aim is to swiftly move the remaining 2023 model year trucks off dealership lots. If the response mirrors the success seen with the Mach-E, sales of the F-150 Lightning are expected to surge.
